Post to AskMefi on my behalf?

May 14, 2006 3:24 PM

Post to AskMefi on my behalf? I just asked a non-urgent question about tipping, but I should have asked a question about oil heat. I'm scheduled to sign a lease tomorrow, and I would really like some answers about heat before I take responsibility for buying a season's worth of oil. I'm brand new to MeFi and slipped up with the 1/week restriction; next time I'll make sure to post my urgent question first. Thanks to anyone willing to help. (My email is in my profile)
posted by reeddavid to MetaFilter-related at 3:24 PM (19 comments total)

I think I am currently over my limit also or otherwise might help.

Still, I think you should have tried emailing someone before posting this to MeTa. If you're over your limit on one site, you don't just post to the other. Pick someone whose name you recognize who seems like-minded, and ask them to do you a favor and help you out. Key word here: email.
posted by scarabic at 3:32 PM on May 14, 2006

are there no people in your life you could consult?
posted by quonsar at 4:00 PM on May 14, 2006

Or pop on over to MetaChat and ask there...
posted by Dunwitty at 4:10 PM on May 14, 2006

I meant, ask somebody there to post for you. I'm not saying that MeCha is the right place to ask about oil...
posted by Dunwitty at 4:11 PM on May 14, 2006

I think that this falls under the catagory of "too bad". Askme already has a profound amount of noise in it, which a question about a pre- and post burger tip would fall under. A question about something you've never delt with on the other hand, isn't noise.

I think the thing here is, don't point question to which you know the answer will be, "it's a judgement call and there is no right answer", "google it", or "who cares?"
posted by 517 at 4:12 PM on May 14, 2006

I'll post it for you. I just sent you an email.
posted by crunchland at 4:25 PM on May 14, 2006

I didn't think the tipping question was really all that bad. Yes, it was kind of chatty, and I think everyone basically just used it as an excuse to castigate your friends as the cheap mofos they are, but it will still a pleasant read. It certainly wasn't the best AskMe ever, but I didn't find anything wrong with it.
posted by Rhomboid at 4:53 PM on May 14, 2006

Yeah, I guess it is a matter of taste. Those kind of questions bother me though.
posted by 517 at 4:59 PM on May 14, 2006

Somebody call the wahmbulance.
posted by bingo at 5:15 PM on May 14, 2006

Beat ya, crunchland.
posted by brundlefly at 5:24 PM on May 14, 2006

This is a great example of the importance of AskMe. So you Whambulance callers, take this as a compliment. On the other hand, it really would be best to e-mail another mefite with something like this. Mefites are just cool anyway and (in my experience) always willing to help.
posted by snsranch at 6:10 PM on May 14, 2006

It would be best to ask on MetaChat.
posted by delmoi at 8:42 PM on May 14, 2006

piqued oil.
posted by moonbird at 10:00 PM on May 14, 2006

This thread is a great example of the MeFi welcome wagon: a kick in the nuts and a bag of chips. When I see someone of a 36K+ user number asking something dumb, my instinct is to educate them and, if possible, help them, not just mock and criticize them. And FYI, Dunwitty, the average newb doesn't know what MetaChat is.

This particular case has its own particular ins and outs and I'm not all that interested in debating those, but I'll take this opportunity to point out what a mean "community" this can sometimes be. Yes, mistakes, perhaps even infractions were made. Is this an unfortunate circumstance requiring some intervention, or a turkey shoot for quonsar and his one-liners?

Unhospitable, y'all. Except brundlefly and crunchland, of course.
posted by scarabic at 11:07 PM on May 14, 2006

Your penance (if someone helps you) should be to pay particular attention to AskMe for the next wee while in case a question within your area of expertise pops up. It narks me that people join up just for AskMe; even more when they then want to bend the rules because they were improvident with their questions. The least you can do for increasing the load on Askme is make an effort to be a good answerer.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 12:26 AM on May 15, 2006

scarabic: I like to think of us as crusty but with a heart of gold.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 12:27 AM on May 15, 2006

scarabic, don't overlook the fact that some may have offered assistance via e-mail.
posted by brain_drain at 12:48 AM on May 15, 2006

Scarabic - I am that newb. My aim was to educate, I just forgot to link MeCha correctly. See? Newbie!
posted by Dunwitty at 1:16 AM on May 15, 2006

"When I see someone of a 36K+ user number asking something dumb, my instinct is to educate them and, if possible, help them, not just mock and criticize them."

It is possible to do all those things together, y'know.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:08 PM on May 15, 2006